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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/21/wmonk21.xml

 US police force to recruit capuchin monkey for 'intelligence' work

By Tom Leonard in New York
Last Updated: 1:05am BST 21/04/2005

An American police force is planning to sign up a monkey to reinforce
its elite special operations team.

Members of the special weapons and tactics (SWAT) unit in Mesa,
Arizona, believe that a capuchin monkey, dressed in a bullet-proof
jacket and equipped with a two-way radio and video camera, could prove
an invaluable reconnaissance tool.

The SWAT team's commander has agreed to a feasibility study into the
use of a capuchin monkey. Sean Truelove, a SWAT officer who builds and
operates reconnaissance robots, has applied for a £53,000 federal
grant to fund the four-year monkey project. Capuchins have already
been trained to be companions to quadriplegics, performing tasks such
as serving food, turning off lights and brushing hair. Mr Truelove
said the same training could prepare a capuchin monkey for police
intelligence work.

He said the monkeys, which weigh only 3-8lb and whose puzzle-solving
skills are enhanced by tiny, dexterous human-like hands, could unlock
doors, search buildings and find injured people upon command.

Their size could allow them into places that officers and robots could
not reach, such as attic rafters, he said. "Everybody laughs about it
until they really start thinking about it. It would change the way we
do business."
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Mr Truelove is prepared for potential opposition from animal rights
groups and insists that the capuchin would not be sent into action if
"the threat level is too high". Gloves for its hands and feet would
protect it from broken glass.

Just as he has never known a suspect to harm a robot, he predicted
that criminals would be "too stunned" by the capuchin's appearance to
hurt it.